Could Bolt have beaten olympic record?

[flobadob]

Usain Bolt did not seem to push for the line in the 200m race as he did in the 100m, in fact he seemed to stride over the finish line. He was only 0.02 seconds under the olympic record for the race. So if he had really gone for it over the last 10/15 metres would he have broken the olympic record do you think?

[horseshoes]

Yes I noticed that and also wondered the same. There was a definite slowing-up. Very strange.

[jomifl]

He hhadn't got any energy left, he admitted so on tv.

[factor-fiction]

He may be saving the world record for a lucrative sponsored event. It looks to me as if he could go up another gear if he wanted to.

[Dodger666]

According to today's press he may have slowed down because athletes get paid a bonus of $50,000 if they break world records at any Diamond League meetings each season. In Bolt's case he is paid $64,000.

If he had broken the world record yesterday he would have got nothing, and it would have made it more difficult to have broken the record at a Diamond League meeting in the future.

A second theory is he glanced at the clock and saw he wouldn't break the world record so he slowed down. I find that one difficult to believe.

They may, or may not, have been the reasons.

[webbo3]

I remember a pole vaulter (Sergi Bubka) who use to get paid a huge amount to beat his old record, so he would beat it by 1cm even tho he cleared it by much much more, see here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Bubka and scroll down to "world record progression by Bubka" and read the second paragraph.



So maybe bolt did the same thing, but who cares, the man is incredible and comes across as a really nice guy.


Dave.

[flobadob]

I don't think he was going to break the world record even if he had pushed at the end, just the olympic record.

[factor-fiction]

http://www.nytimes.co...medalist-ever.html?hp
This is interesting

[jno]

he said he was feeling back strain, so reined it in a bit as nobody was going to pass him. It's a race, not a time trial. But if there was someone pushing him, I have no doubt he could break the world record; he's just astonishingly fast.

[jno]

of course, back strain is nothing - one of the Americans in the relay was running with a broken leg.

http://www.guardian.c...-usa-relay-broken-leg

[Hopkirk]

This easing off due to back strain is rubbish - he has just run 200 meters, so how can easing off half a second early help?

[AB Editor]

That is commitment to your sport and country, good on him. @jno

[jno]

"Look, you stupid bastard. You've got no arms left."
"Yes I have."
"Look!"
"It's just a flesh wound."

[Mattk]

If you watch his face in slo-mo he glances to the clock and sees it aint gonna happen and actually looks quite disappointed!

[ChuckFickens]

That's an interesting link posted by Factor, its amazing that the 1896 gold medal winner would have finished nearly 20meters behind bolt!

[EvianBaby]

I'd very much doubt he was saving a WR for an event where he would win $64k. The guy will continue to rake it on from deals. That amount of money would be very little to him.

[ichkeria]

Either way he and his performance were completely overshadowed for me by David Rudisha, an athlete of at least equal talent who DID break a world record and who moreover did not puff himself up to the status of 'living legend' afterwards.

[Duncer]

I too was amazed by Rudisha - a truly phenomenal performance.

[Duncer]

Back to Bolt......


http://uk.eurosport.y...-slurs-234538050.html